In an earlier post on this blog (link) I, The Bull, made a statement that I was rather more than eager to get my mitts on the Ruger New Vaquero, model number NV44. It is a beautiful color case frame and deeply blued barrel. A fine weapon to be sure. There have been rumors of recalls, but a call to Ruger assures me that it is not so. Here’s a reminder of its good looks…
However, I must now tell you that the NV44 has serious competition!
Say “Hello” to the Ruger New Vaquero, model number KNV44.
Yep. Polished stainless. Looks like the old nickel plating, doesn’t it? Not only that, but it has another huge advantage I must consider… Corrosion resistance.
Fact: I live on the coast now , and it is a very warm climate. Since this will be my daily carry firearm it will be exposed to coastal weather and perhaps salt water. And bunches of sweat.
Fact: I might as well admit that I’m addicted to blackpowder. No doubt I’ll want to try blackpowder loads in those big .45 Colt cases. Stainless would make the cleaning up afterwards much easier. Heck, I might go with a BP self-defense load. Imagine the look on the faces of baddies as one falls with a HUGE hole in him and the supposed victim disappears behind a cloud of white smoke! Don’t write to me! I know about all of the reasons we went to smokeless powder. I was just thinkin’…
Omar,out.
The corrosion resistance is a huge bonus, but I look at those two revolvers side by side and my heart just gets drawn straight to that beautiful color case hardening.
I shoot an old Model 4 5/8 Vaquero and love it. I also shoot a Uberti SAA 7 1/2 which has a different “feel” but is my 2nd revolver of choice for competition. The New Vaquero is a 5 5/8 and simply does not feel the same to me, whether in my left or right hand. My perception is that it is smaller in the neck, and I don’t like feeling the hammer spur on the web of my hand at full cock. No, I don’t have a large hand. Combine that with the left grip, bottom, forward corner, fell off the gun during the first shoot.
Overall, I have a real problem relating this piece to the 9 Ruger revolvers I’ve owned over the past 30 years. Won’t sour me on Ruger though. They are tough, get the job done, and I would trust my life to their products. But not this new one until a few things are changed, and they explain the recall in detail.